Circle T Leather Leads

I can't tell you how much I despise those extendable/retractable leashes that people love to use. The mechanism to lock the line breaks, the line itself breaks, and worst of all, if you aren't paying attention, your dog can get a good 30-foot head of steam going before yanking your arm out of its socket.
I prefer a short (4 foot) leather leash like the one pictured. They give you better control of your dog, and they last forever.